Retirement Plan	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Retirement Plan	Retirement Plan Centene has a defined contribution plan which covers substantially all team members who are at least 21 years of age. Under the plan, eligible team members may contribute a percentage of their base salary, subject to certain limitations. Centene may elect to match a portion of the employee's contribution. Company expense related to matching contributions to the plan was $138 million, $136 million and $131 million during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The entire disclosure for an entity's employee compensation and benefit plans, including, but not limited to, postemployment and postretirement benefit plans, defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans, non-qualified and supplemental benefit plans, deferred compensation, share-based compensation, life insurance, severance, health care, unemployment and other benefit plans.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 715
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/715/tableOfContent

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 712
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/712/tableOfContent

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 710
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/710/tableOfContent

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 718
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/718/tableOfContent

Name:	us-gaap_CompensationAndEmployeeBenefitPlansTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration